Lawmakers want prison time for texting drivers in fatal accidents

As the debate continues over a bill to ban texting while driving, two lawmakers said today they are filing legislation to impose tougher penalties on motorists who cause fatal accidents while texting in their vehicles.

Sen. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, and state Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Boca Raton, want to have drivers who cause accidents while texting face the charge of vehicular homicide if the accidents results in a death. They said they are filing the legislation (SB 708) with the idea the potential penalty can be increased even if lawmakers don’t pass a driving-while-texting ban this year.

“While the debate may wage on regarding a ban on texting while driving, there should be no debate that if you kill someone due to texting while driving you should go to jail. Period,” Soto said in a statement.

Here is a release on their bill:

State Senator Darren Soto (D-Orlando) and State Representative Irv Slosberg (D-Boca Raton) are proposing a bill that would make vehicular homicide the standard penalty for causing a death due to texting while driving. Currently, the State of Florida does not have a law against texting while driving – even when death occurs as a result. Since there is no statewide standard, offenders who have caused a death may get away with as little as a traffic citation.

According to a recent article in the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Florida Highway Patrol Sergeant Richard Davis commented about the penalties for causing a death while texting and driving: “The hard ones are when all they are getting is a ticket, because it’s just an accident. It’s tough to tell a family member that’s all they are going to get.”

Senator Soto filed Senate Bill 708 to be introduced during this year’s legislative session. “While the debate may wage on regarding a ban on texting while driving, there should be no debate that if you kill someone due to texting while driving you should go to jail. Period,” Senator Soto said.

Lloyd Dunkelberger

Lloyd Dunkelberger is the Htpolitics.com Capital Bureau Chief.
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Last modified: February 8, 2013
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